Chicago City Treasurer Kurt Summers will hold a 10 a.m. news conference. The advisory from Summers’ campaign team indicated Summers will make a “press conference announcement.” The ambitious Summers has held out the possibility he will run for the Democratic governor nomination and indicated a decision was coming soon. The field already has five announced candidates, including Chicago billionaire J.B. Pritkzer.

Think he’ll get in?

*** UPDATE 1 *** Nope…

Kurt Summers has told supporters he will NOT run for governor. Announcement expected shortly.

City treasurer Kurt Summers, long a rumored candidate for governor, is expected to announce Wednesday morning that he will not seek that office and instead endorse billionaire J.B. Pritzker, a source told the Sun-Times.

“JB is the right candidate to lead the fight against Governor Rauner and to clean up the mess that’s been created in Springfield and across our state,” said Kurt Summers. “I’ve known JB for over a decade. I’ve seen up close his values, his expertise and his relentless passion for helping others. JB understands that the best way to lift up our communities is through job creation and real investment, and I trust that he will bring back stability to Illinois.

“JB’s past experiences prove he is the most committed and the most capable person to govern our state and deliver on the promise to improve the lives of working people and low-income communities. He is the person we need to lead Illinois, prioritizing those who are most vulnerable among us. I know JB will fight every day for the people of this state, especially for black and brown communities that have suffered from disinvestment and have been disproportionately affected by Governor Rauner’s lack of leadership. JB will work hard to earn every single vote – and truly represent us all as governor.”

“Today, I am honored and humbled to accept the endorsement of Chicago City Treasurer Kurt Summers,” said JB Pritzker. “Kurt is someone who shows up every day and fights for all our city’s children and families, especially for communities that are too often left behind. And, unlike Governor Rauner, Kurt gets results and we’re all better off because of it. We’re just twenty days in to this campaign, and I’m thankful for the strong showing of support we’re receiving from leaders across Illinois.”

*** UPDATE 5 *** Press release…

Chris Kennedy, Democratic candidate for Illinois Governor, released the following statement on Kurt Summers’ announcement that he would not be running for Governor.

“I made it clear where I stand when I spoke to the Cook County Democrats in March. This race is not about politicians endorsing other politicians or what might be happening behind closed doors. This race is about restoring the promise of the American Dream to the people of Illinois. Voters want to see the depth of our ideas and the vision we bring to rebuilding the promise of this state. My focus will be on earning the trust of the voters of Illinois and making Springfield finally work for their future.”

He’s certainly motivated to get out in the
Chicago community .. visiting Chicago’s 77 communities in 77 days. City slicker has no name recognition downstate, so more likely to inherit the wind from Rahm.

Not a chance. I’ve seen less waffling in the frozen breakfast aisle at Jewel. This gives him time to rack up an actual achievement during his tenure as Treasurer because aside from bungling and hacking the Mayor (worst appointee ever) and others off he’s done ZERO. I mean his resume looks right and he kind of talks the talk but he’s really not the droid you’re looking for..

I feel like we’d have heard more about a campaign structure by now if he was building one. Though hell, maybe someone else here has. “Angling for LG” makes sense to me, though I’m not sure any of the G candidates want to add another Chicagoan to the mix.

A few things:
- Kurt’s own poll had him at just 7% right now polling against Kennedy and Pritzker. Even though he’s the only elected official in the race.
- With informed positives, he still only gets to 28%. That’s his ceiling. Kennedy only loses a point in the informed poll. Looking at Kurt’s own polling, it shows that the idea that Kurt cuts into Kennedy’s numbers is wrong.
- That poll also didn’t include Biss and Pawar.
- Michael Sacks and anyone else who would give money to Kurt is behind JB. He doesn’t have unique donors that aren’t close to Rahm. He only has $250K in the bank. He raised just over $100k last quarter, even while saying he was exploring for Governor. I don’t see how he raises enough to be viable.
- Most importantly, running for Governor requires hard work and raising money. Two things Summers doesn’t particularly care for.

He’s not in. His meetings with the other candidates were more about sussing out what his fit could be as an LG candidate. Guessing his thought was LG to G or US SEN. Given that he’s in office solely as the appointee of an unpopular mayor, who he immediately starting gunning for, humility has never been a club in his bag. Pride before the fall, yada, yada.

It might also be helpful for him to just once refer to the African-American community as ‘our community’, whether he likes it or not. Tough to have it both ways on that issue. Not impossible but pretty tough.

To the update: Oops.
Not surprising that Summers is supporting Pritzker. But Kurt Summers alone won’t be enough to bring the AA community on board. Wondering where Danny Davis and Bobby Rush will land. Guessing the black vote will be splintered among the white candidates.

I grew up surrounded by activists.
People from around the state have been asking me to run.
There is so much work to be done.
I’ve never had specific ambitions, I’ll run where needed.
I want to build on the progress I’ve made as City Treasurer.
I’m going to continue to work on issues important to the people.
Trust me, I’m not going anywhere, I’m loving the attention.
Contributions can be made to…

Also, the idea that he’s angling for Lt. Governor seems like a poor fit. If you find the job of city treasurer unsatisfying wait until you find out what the Lt. Governor does. Summers used to work in the Governor’s office, he knows, I’d be very surprised if he wants that.

Speaking of which, when’s the last time anyone has seen or heard from our current Lt. Governor? I honestly can’t recall seeing her name mentioned in a year or two.

Another good thing about picking Summers as a running mate is that he is an elected official without having to have a voting record to answer for (like Pawar & Biss will have to if they pipe up in the polls)

Summers’ endorsement and those from these Aldermen are a nice coup for Pritzker. He needs to build on it, sure, but this gives him a head start in winning over African-American voters in Chicago. Nicely played.

It seems as if Pritzker has started calling in favors. I wouldn’t be surprised if this is the first in a wave of endorsements from local leaders. Expect a gaggle of local mayors and state legislators next.

@Fax Machine, You obviously do not know Raoul, he doesn’t want to go down badly when he has his sights set on bigger offices than Lt. Gov. Has any of the Lt Gov candidates (not the winners like PQ)gone to Gov or US Senate. Maybe a back bencher like Christian Mitchell, but he’s Kwame Raoul! He ain’t interested in no stinkin’ Lt Gov crap.

- Just a kid from the South Side of Chicago - Wednesday, Apr 26, 17 @ 12:56 pm:

It is a smart move for Kurt to not run for Governor. It’s wise since it would be tough to win this race especially downstate where he isn’t as known as he is in the Greater Chicago area.

My only thing is that I would’ve held off in endorsing this early to Pritizker since, particularly in the African American community, J.B. candidacy is more of the same in terms of having money to become governor.

So, when a half dozen pro-life, pro-gun county chairmen from Southern Illinois endorse Kennedy, It is a REALLY BIG DEAL, but when major black elected officials from the state’s Democratic stronghold endorse his opponent, he wants us to dismiss them?

I agree with Summers in not running for governor . The time isn’t right and his resume is not built for governor . I think once his economic plan (Fund 77) starts to show growth and expansion to communities that heavily need a resurgence in job /economic opportunities , he can become a proven candidate for mayor . Summers backing of Pritzker has nothing to do with any behind the scenes politicians endorsing politicians BS , I genuinely believe that the people from Illinois want to see progressive politics in which he state starts to flourish . Our budget has been in shambles since Raurner took office and nothing has been deemed effective for the people of Illinois . Summers will be a great ally to the governor but the vision of mayor of Chicago should be the forefront for his next political moves in which I believe Summers will be profound and accomplished in this position .